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Deviated Septum

What Is a Deviated Septum?

The nasal septum is the part of the nose that divides the nasal cavity into two separate chambers. It is made of cartilage. A deviated septum is when the septum has an abnormal shape or alignment. It may cause problems with proper breathing or nasal discharge.

While doctors estimate that up to 80 percent of all nasal septum cases are somewhat off center, we only consider it a deviated septum when it is severely shifted away from the middle.

Symptoms of a deviated septum

You may be born with a deviated nasal septum. It can also be the result of an injury or damage from previous medical treatments.

Deviated septum treatment

We often perform a procedure called septoplasty to treat a deviated septum. Septoplasty is reconstructive plastic surgery to correct the septum. We perform the procedure entirely through the nostrils, removing or readjusting the septum. Learn more about treatment for deviated septum.